I'm hoping to set my first leg holds for wolf in the next week. Never done this before. One particular spot i want to set is in the middle of a strip of alders on a river flat. The alders run between thick, impenetrable spruce on the bank, and the more mature, open forest nearer to the elevation change. There is just sort of a natural corridor there. I discovered it myself, looking ahead for the path of least resistance - and when I got there, I found the wolves had beat me to it. Some alders might be four or five inches thick at the base. Is that enough to anchor to? Or would I be better off setting up with a drag? It is thick enough that I wouldn't see the wolf getting too far with a drag.

Just in general - I am wondering about anchors. In the forest, I will anchor to trees. In marginal areas, I can use what's available, or improvise.

I also have an area that the wolves are already regularly using, and I hesitate to come in there with a lot of stink - bait, and lure. I'd rather be stealthy in their core area. But on the fringe - I'd be up for trying bait. This would be in a wide open area with zero anything to anchor to. I'm wondering if anyone uses a long ground stake? With the warm temperatures, and with my spot being near salt water - I might just have a chance. Just wondering if any of you are doing this, or if you have alternative tricks.

Thanks for any help you can offer. Last thing I want to do is loose my first wolf.

I prefer drags everywhere. I use three prong drags. Just less hassle than cutting wooden drags. A 4-5 inch tree should be big enough to hold wolves, I know I would use it. Good luck.

Use a real wolf trap,not a BM750 bridger no 5 coyote trap.Trap is to small i think.If you loose a wolf you can by 2-3 real wolf trap,s A 4x8 ft drag is good . A steel 3 ft stake in the ground is best.You don,t have to run down your wolf.

Drags for me. I always use a good stout pole at least 10 feet long

I anchor snares to these diameter small spruce and hemlock frequently.

this one is anchored to a big Beach log

The minimum i would use is a grapple with 10 plus ft of chain

"BM". Was that done purposefully?

If so, I guess I know how you feel about THAT trap!!! Now we are into Ford vs Chevy haha

Your description sounds like a good place for some snares.
mt

W.H.
Do you by chance have the wolf trapping manual and DVD the ATA made?
Lots of good info.
On another note regardless of what you decide to attach your trap too
(pole,tree,grapple) double check your swivels and welds.

No I don't have it yet, but you are the second or third that have mentioned it, and I plan to get them! I'm sort of a sponge for any new info right now...

If you chain to a small diameter tree, make sure the chain is all the way to the bottom. They like to chew everything down within reach. Hopefully there will be enough of a stub left to keep holding it.

In the area you are describing my opinion is that a two prong drag with 10' of chain will be more than sufficient, the first thing that wolf is going to do after he's caught is head for cover and he won't make it 10' in the brush before he's hung up good. The benefit of a drag is that you can set it under the trap, off to the side, etc. This gives you a lot more flexibility on where the trap should go instead of just a good place to anchor to. Another thing about a steel drag is you will have less time messing around (leaving scent, disturbing the ground) in the area, than you will wiring up to a tree, cutting and burying a pole drag, or digging a hole and pounding a stake in. I think a big part is how smart the wolves are in your area as well, educated/smart wolves will pick up on small out of place details/scents where as less smart wolves won't be as spooked by that stuff.

This is just my opinion based on my experiences.

" What's the least you will anchor to? "

A beaver feed pile.